Matteo said: “No doubt Sam will be speaking to the players here, he’s got a lot of friends in the young players. They’ll be saying ‘what’s it like at West Ham?’ and next year, ‘what’s it like at the Olympic Stadium?’. I’ll think they’ll [West Ham] definitely get into Europe, which means he could be playing European football next season. Speaking to the young boys here, they’re going to be jealous of Sam.”

Byram was confirmed as a West Ham player yesterday, signing a long-term deal with the Hammers having spent all his career with Leeds.

He progressed from the academy to the first-team, and on leaving Elland Road, the 22-year-old was the most experienced player in the current Leeds squad.

Whilst first-team chances may be hard to come by this season at West Ham, he is sure to be part of Slaven Bilic’s squad, and is the long-term option for the club at right-back.

For Byram, he is joining a club who are set to move into a new stadium at the end of this season, and who are looking to establish themselves as a team in European competition.

He has made a major step up in his career, and Matteo believes the remaining Leeds youngsters - primarily Charlie Taylor and Lewis Cook - will be asking Byram all about playing in the Premier League.

He could be playing in Europe next season, in a stadium bigger than Elland Road, whilst Leeds will likely be a mid-table Championship team still.

Matteo believes that the likes of Cook and Taylor will get jealous of Byram, and could look to force through moves to the Premier League as soon as possible to ensure they get to live the same lifestyle that the full-back is set to start enjoying.

Billy Hawkins

Billy is a freelance writer who contributes to various sites concerning football. Known to possess an obsession with statistics, Eastern European club sides, and Victorian football, he focuses upon the untapped potential of the Football League in the belief it is more enjoyable than the Premier League.